Phil Thompson believes DanielSturridge will leave Liverpool to get more first-team football. The England striker has started only five Premier League games so far this season due to illness and injuries, with Jurgen Klopp picking Roberto Firmino and top-scorer Sadio Mane.

He told the Premier League Daily: “It’s hard to build a team around Daniel because you wait so long. Even he would realise that. If you can’t get him on the pitch enough it’s difficult for the manager how you are going to shape your team up.

“When he plays he is a threat to anybody, that’s the shame of this. It’s extremely difficult, he can’t help it being injured. I don’t think he will be at Liverpool and I think that [is right decision] for both parties, for Daniel and for Liverpool.”

While his goalscoring form for club and country ranks him as one of the Premier League’s most lethal forwards, Sturridge has struggled to shrug off injury problems that have plagued his career.

In his four years on Merseyside, Sturridge has played just 83 league games.

And even when the England international has been fit this season, Jurgen Klopp has opted to choose Roberto Firmino and Divock Origi ahead of Sturridge.